According to an international media watchdog, the Philippines has become one of the world’s most dangerous place to work and can be identified with Iraq and Afghanistan in that respect. The comment has been sparked by the recent massacre in the province of Maguindanao.

The International Federation of Journalists which is based in Brussels blamed the Arroyo administration for allowing and failing to stop the “culture of impunity” towards journalists. Many reporters, including members of international media, have been killed while on assignment to various parts of the Philippines, including Metro Manila.

“Under the current government, the Philippines has become the most dangerous place in the world for media workers. At least 74 journalists have been killed during its eight-year tenure, yet the [Arroyo] government has not acted to end the culture of impunity. At last count, only four convictions had been secured,” the group said.

Before the massacre in Maguindanao, the New York-based monitor Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) ranked the Philippines as the fourth deadliest country for journalists in terms of reporters’ deaths for 2009. In recent years, the Philippines got as far as the second most dangerous place behind Iraq. However, recent killings saw the Philippines leapfrog Somalia, Iraq, and Pakistan into the top spot.